Combination megaphone and bell



H. D. HENDRlCKS COMBINATION MEGAPHONE AND BELL Filed April 2'7, 19 56 Jan; '7, 1958 2,818,829

IN V EN TOR.

A 770/?NEVS United States Patent '0 2,818,829 COMBINATION MEGAPHONE AND BELL Homer D. Hendricks, Bangor, Mich.

Application April 27, 1956, Serial N 0. 581,120

6 Claims. (Cl. 116-2) This invention relates to a combination megaphone and bell, and more particularly has reference to a combination article of this type which can be used to particular advantage by the cheering sections of schools and colleges, although it obviously is not restricted to this use.

Summarized briefly, the invention includes a flared body formed open at its opposite ends and particularly designed to be molded in identical, though opposite sections, with said sections being connected together during movement of the device. At its smaller end, the body includes a mouthpiece, which is also flared, though oppositely to the body. The interiors of the mouthpiece and body are in communication, so that one desiring to use the device as a megaphone can place the mouthpiece to the lips, while at the other times the mouthpiece can be grasped as a handle for swinging the device back and forth to cause a novelly shaped clapper to strike a tone-producing ring embedded in the inner surface of the body at the larger end thereof. A carrying cord is connected to the clapper in such a manner that when the device is not in use, the clapper will automatically be shifted into a position in which it will be prevented from swinging against the tone ring, with grasping of the combined mouthpiece and handle being adapted to impart slack to the carrying cord, thus automatically freeing the clapper for swinging movement into engagement with the ring.

An article of the type referred to is particularly adapted for use in cheering sections. At athletic contests, the cheer leaders are generally provided both with bells and megaphones, and by use of the device, both of these articles are combined into one, with the article being conveniently suspended from the wrists.

An object of importance is to provide a combination device of the type referred to which will be eflicient in use, and will at the same time be of highly attractive appearance. It is proposed, in this regard, to permit the body portion of the device to be of molded plastic, thus adapting the same to be manufactured in various colors, which colors can be the school colors. The arrangement further permits the placement of the school letter upon the outer surface of the device, further to enhance the attractive appearance thereof.

Another object is to provide a device as stated in which the particular formation and relative arrangement of the flared body and combined mouthpiece and handle will adapt the device for use as a combination article at a cost little greater than that of a bell or megaphone manufactured separately.

A further object is to form and relatively arrange the several components so as to shift the clapper to a position in which it will be prevented from sounding the bell, responsive to suspension of the device from ones wrist. Still another object is to form and relatively arrange the several components in such a way that the clapper will automatically shift to its use position responsive to grasping of the handle portion of the device.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the device, suspended from ones wrist with the clapper in an inoperative position;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 in which the device is in use as abell; I

Figure 3 is a section on line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure l; and

Figure 5 is a reduced elevational view of the device in use as a megaphone.

The combination device generally designated 10 includes identical, oppositely arranged body sections 12, 14. The identical construction of said sections permits both of them to be molded of plastic, in the same mold, thus reducing the manufacturing cost of the device.

The sections 12, 14 are so shaped that when connected in the manner shown in Figures 3 and 4, they will cooperate to define a flared, hollow open-ended body. In the smaller end of the body, the respective sections are integral with mouthpiece sections 16, 18, formed as the separate halves of a mouthpiece which is also of flared formation. This, however, is substantially smaller than the body in length and diameter, and is flared oppositely to the body as best shown in Figure 5.

The body sections 12, 14 at their outer or larger ends, are integrally formed with outwardly curving lip portions 20, 22. These cooperate, when the sections are connected, to form a continuous circumferential lip on the larger end of the body.

Formed in the inner surface of the body, adjacent the lip thereof, is a continuous groove 24, and embedded or otherwise fixedly engaged in said groove is a tone-producing ring 26 projecting inwardly beyond the inner surface of the body as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

At the juncture between the mouthpiece and body, there is formed in the device a pair of diametrically opposed openings 28, and extending therethrough is a supporting cord 30 the ends of which are extended to one side of the mouthpiece as shown in Figure 3 and are knotted as at 32.

Within the smaller end of the body, the intermediate portion of the cord is knotted to form a loop 34 passing through spaced openings 36 formed in the end portions of a short, straight bight 38 of a clapper that also includes legs 40 extending from the bight. Legs 40 diverge gradually along curving lines in a direction away from the bight, and at their free ends are integrally formed with outwardly directed extensions 42. The clapper may thus be considered to be of approximate U-shape, with lateral projections at its opposite ends.

In the legs, adjacent bight 38, openings 44 are formed. Extending through said openings between the legs is the midlength portion of an elongated carrying cord 46 that extends out of the body through openings 48 formed at diametrically opposite locations in the body in closely spaced relation to the openings 28. The end portions 50 of the carrying cord are passed about ones wrist, and may be connected by a suitable ornamental tassel or equivalent means 51.

In use of the device, and assuming that it is not presently employed either as a megaphone or hell, it is suspended from the wrist as shown in Figure 1. This causes the body portion of the device to slide downwardly upon the carrying cord, as shown in Figure 1. The carrying cord holds the clapper against corresponding downward movement. As a result, the clapper is automatically centered in the device due to the engagement of the carrying cord against the flared end of the mouthpiece at diametrically opposite locations on the mouthpiece. At the same time,

the body of the device shifts downwardly into engagement with the extensions 42 of the clapper.

As a result, the clapper under these circumstances is held lagainst accidental movement-intoengagement with t-he toneproducingrrin g 26. --If,. .-however, the devicei's to be used asaxbell the mouth piece isgrasped-as a handl'e (Figure 2)-=andon 'li ftiugsof the body slack is created in the c-arrying c'ord', ifireeing 'the= clapperfor swinging movement into engagement with the tonenprod-ucing ring 26. r'llhis'perrnits the sounding of the bell, responsive to swinging of the body by the user.

Whenithe device is to -beused' as' a megaphone, the weight rof'=' the hi'ghtl portion of? the 1 clapper at its inner end causes it: to-zswing: downwardly toward the mouthpiece with the device positioned as-inFigureS. This pullsf t'heendsf-42l of clapperup' aga inst the circumferential lip: oft-he bodygcausing the bell to remain silent.

HIt'will bese'en'flth'at the device'provides; in a combination articlo an attraotively designed, "efliciently usable megaphone and'=bell, -having .means to automaticallyprevent sounding of-the bell whenever the device is not being specifically employed forthis particular purpose. The natural graspingef the handle for'swinging of the device whenit"-is-to =beused as a bell automatically frees the clapper for swinging movement, 'as will be apparent from Figure 2. "The-device has particular adaptability for use in cheering sections, though obviously'other uses thereof may be readily'found.

It is believed apparentthat the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since 'itrnay be'utilized for any purpose to which it may be'suited. 'Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the' specific construction illustrated and described, since such construction is only intendedto be illustrative of the, principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor change in construction that may be. permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

'1. A combination megaphone and bell comprising a hollow' body-.formedopenat both ends; a mouthpiece communicating with the body at one end thereof and extending from said end to .provide a handle; a carrying cord extending into the body, said body being slidable in anaxialdi-rection on the cord; and a clapper suspended by said cord within the :body fonswinging movement relativezto-thebodypresponsi eto grasping of the handle and swinging ofi=the body. by-auser, said body when slidably moved one direction on' the cord engaging the clapper against-swinging movement.

Acontbinationumegaphone and 'bellcomprising a hollow body rforrned open at both ends; a mouthpiece communicating'with' the bodyat'one 'end thereof and extending from said end to provide a handle; acarrying cord extending:'intovthe body, said body being slidable in an axial-direction ou -the cord; and a generally -U-shaped clapper su'sp'endedby-said cordwithin'the body for swinging movement relative to the body responsive to grasping of the handle and swinging of thebody by a user, said clapper including legs formed'with outwardly projecting extensions, said bodywhen slidably moved in one directionbnvtthe. cord-"engaging the extensions of the clapper legs to hold the clapper against swinging movement relative to-the body.

3.- A- combination: megaphone and I bell comprising a hollow-body forrned open at both ends; a .mouthpiece communicatingawith the body. atone end thereof and. extending from: said end to provide a .handle; a carrying cord extending into the body,= said body being slidable in an axial direction =on1the cord; a generally U shaped clapperwsuspended by said 'cord within :the. body for 'swin ging movement i relative -to the body responsive to grasping of. -the "handle? and swinging: of the bodyrby' a auser, said clapper including legs formed with outwardly projecting extensions, said body when slidably moved in one direction on the cord engaging the extensions of the clapper legs to hold the clapper against swinging movement relative to the body; and a supporting cord carried by the body and connected to the clapper.

4. A combination megaphone and bell comprising a hollow, flaring body formed open at both ends; a mouthpiece iiared"oppositely to' the body and communicating therewith atone end of the body, said mouthpiece extending from said end of the body to provide a handle; a carrying: cord having: its r intermediate 1 portion r extending through the body adjacenhthe mouthpiece, said body being slidable in an axial direction on the cord; and a clapper formed substantially to a U-shape to include a bight and legs extending from the bight, said carrying cord being connected to the clapper to hold the same against sliding movement on the cord with the 'bodyg and asupporting cord carried'by the 'body'and connected to said bight, for sounding of the bell responsive to grasping of-thehandle andswi-ngin-g of the body bya user with the carrying cord ina slack condition, said legs being formed with outwardly projecting extensions, said body, when slidably moved in one direction on the cord,-engaging-the extensions to hold the clapperagainst swinging movement relative to the body.

5.-A' combination megaphone and bell comprising a hollow, fiaring'body formed open at both ends; a'mouthpiece flared oppositely to the body and'communicating therewith at one end of thebody, said mouthpiece extendingfrom said end of the body to provide a handle; a carrying cord "having its intermediate portion extending through the body adjacent the mouthpiece, said body being slidable'in' an axial direction onthe cord; and a clapper formed'substantially to a U-shape to include a bight and legs extending from the bight, said carrying cord being connected to theiclapper to hold the same against sliding movement on the cord with the body; a supporting cord carried by the body and connected to said bight, for sounding of the bell responsive to grasping of the'handle andswinging of the body by a user with the carrying cord in a slack condition, said legs being formed with outwardly projecting extensions, said 'body, when slidably moved in one direction on the cord,.engaging the extensions tohold the clapper against swinging movement relative to the b0dy;and a ring fixedly engaged .in the inner surface of the body adjacent the larger end. of the body, .said ring projecting inwardly .from said inner surface so as who struck by the legs of the clapper on swinging of the clapper relative to the body, to produce a bell tone.

6. A combination megaphone and bell comprising ahollow, flaring body-formed open 'at both ends; a mouthpiece flared oppositely to the body andcommunicating therewith atone end of the body, .said mouthpiece extending from said end of the bodyto provide a handle; a carrying cord having its intermediate portion extending through the body? adjacent-the mouthpiece, said body "being rslidableiin an -axial direction onthe cord; and a clapper formed :substantially to a U-shape toinclude a bight and legs extending from the bight, said carrying cord being connected to the clapper-to holdthe-same against sliding movement on the cord with the-body; a'supporting cord carried byrthe body and-connected to'said bight, for soundingof the'b'ell responsive to grasping-of the handleand 'swinging-ofthe body by a user with the carrying cord in a slack condition, said'legs being formed with outwardly projecting extensions, said body, when slidably moved'in one direction on the lcor'dyeng-aging'the extensions to hold theclapper against"swinginglmovement relative :to the body; and a ring fixedly engaged in the inner surface of the body adjacent :the larger end of thebody, said ring "projecting inwardly'from said inner surface so as to be 'struck'by-t-he legs of the clappenon swinging 'of theiclapper relativetto the'body; ."toiproduce a bell tone, said body "being =forrned 5 of identical, oppositely arranged sections, the mouthpiece also being formed of identical, oppositely arranged sections, the sections being integrally connected to the corresponding sections of the mouthpiece, one integrally connected body and mouthpiece section being connected fixedly to the other body and mouthpiece section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Wolfi Mar. 31, 1908 Wolf Mar. 9, 1909 Larson Aug. 11, 1914 

